Apparatus for fitting cylinder locks and keys



Dec. 8, 1936. c ZYGMUNT 2,063,138

APPARATUS FOR FITTING CYLINDER LOCKS AND KEYS Filed Feb. 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Emma Z yqmL/m WWW;

Dec. 8, 1936. Q z -r 4 2,063,138

APPARATUS FOR FITTING CYLINDER LOCKS AND KEYS Filed Feb. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 h- IIIIIIIIIIFIIHI I I I F mmt-zatcez 7 W ""wrnllnmlumw 4 9 l 7 Dec. 8, 1936. ZYGMUNT 2,063,138

APPARATUS FOR FITTING CYLINDER LOCKS AND KEYS Filed Feb. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet s 1 l ZIIIIIIHQIZ Z I m Canrad Zygmuni 4 Dec. 8, 1936. c ZYGMUNT I 2,063,138

APPARATUS FOR FITTING CYLINDER LOCKS AND KEYS Filed Feb. 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 L U/m? w Cmrad Z ygmum Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FITTING CYLINDER LOCKS AND KEYS Conrad Zygmunt, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for fitting cylinder locks and keys, and has as an object to provide a compact equipment for use by key and lock service sta- .tions for quickly and accurately fitting a key to any lock, duplicating any key, or fitting a lock cylinder to a given key.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved key cutting machine -which is so constructed that the different depths of the notches in the key are obtained without requiring sidewise movement on the part of the key so that the key may be more firmly and solidly supported.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key cutting machine having a single cutter constructed with a plurality of cutting portions, one for each of the various depths of the notches to be cut into the key blank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key cutting machine in which the cutter turns about a fixed axis and advances only in one direction so that retraction of the cutter through a notch cut into the blank, is obviated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key cutting machine which will cut V-shaped notches in the key blank, the angle of whose sides are determined by the depth of the notches with the shallower notches having flatter angles than the deep notches, to insure smooth operation of the key in the cylinder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key cutting machine in which a single cutter having a plurality of cutting lobes, provides means for cutting all of the different depth notches and in which any lobe may be quickly brought into operative position.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for holding thekey blank during the cutting action and for shifting it lengthwise to present difierent portions of the blank to the cutter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel device in direct association with the key cutting machine for measuring and indicating the depths of the notches in any key so as to determine its combination.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple tumbler cutting unit for trimming off the ends of the tumblers of a lock cylinder and for trimming down the cylinder in the event it is oversize.

And a further object of this invention is to provide ,a unitary apparatus in which the key N cutting and tumbler cutting machines are mounted on a cabinet, which provides convenient means for holding a stock of keys, tumblers, and cylinders, and which is readily portable and is at all times ready for immediate use.

With the above and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my inven-v tion resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in section, of the key cutting machine per se;

Figure 3 is a section view taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 33, and looking down on the key cutting machine;

Figure 4 is a vertical section view taken through Figure 2 on the .plane of the line 4-4;

Figure 5 is a detail section view taken through Figure 4 on the plane of the line 5-5;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating the key blank holder and the manner in which the cutting tool operates;

Figure '7 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in section, of the tumbler trimming machine;

Figure 8 is a detail top plan view of the key measuring and indicating mechanism, carried by the key cutting machine; and

Figure 9 is a detail section view taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 99.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates a cabinet having a flat top 6, which forms a base upon which a key cutting machine 1 and a tumbler trimming machine 8 are mounted. The cabinet 5 is equipped with drawers 9, which afford a convenient storage space for locks, keys, tumblers, and' other lock appurtenances, and the top 6 is provided with a handle ID, by which the entire unit may be carried about.

The entire equipment necessary for duplicating keys, fitting keys to a particular lock cylinder,

or fitting a lock cylinder to a given key, and for trimming the cylinder to its proper size, is thus embodied in a single unitary structure.

The key cutting machine 1 comprises a supporting frame I 5 having spaced arms I2 to provide bearings I3 and I4 for the shaft I5 of a circular cutter disc Iii. Attaching ears I! extend laterally from the opposite sides of the frame for the reception of attaching screws by which the frame is secured to the top 6 of the cabinet.

Forwardly of the cutter Hi, the frame is increased in width and formed with two spaced side walls i8, whose upper portions provide bearings I9 for a shaft 29 parallel to the axis of the shaft I5.

The shaft 29 mounts a cradle or chuck 2i which holds the key blank K to be cut in its proper relationship with respect to the cutter I6. The key blank carrier or chuck consists of a block 22, rigidly secured to the shaft 20 and provided at its forward end with a step or ledge 23 upon which the key blank rests fiatwise, as best shown in Figure 6. The step or ledge is preferably a separate member secured to the block 22 by screws or any other suitable fastening means so that in the event it becomes worn, it may be readily replaced.

The blank to be cut is positioned with its blade resting fiat on the ledge 23 and the shoulder at the base of its blade, engaging the side of the step or ledge, where it is held by a clamping strap 24. The clamping strap 24 is U-shaped and is mounted on the top of the block 22 to be drawn down toward the block by a wing nut 25 threaded on a stud 29, which is carried by the block and passes through an opening in the clamping strap.

A pair of upright pins 21, carried by the block on either side of the strap hold the strap against turning about the stud 26, and a compression spring 28, confined between the block and the clamping strap serves to lift the strap off the key when the wing nut is retracted.

The forward end of the clamping strap presses down onto the key and is provided with a V- shaped edge 29 to engage in one of the grooves in the blank, and firmly hold the same in place;

and the opposite end of the clamping strap en-.

gages an inclined face 39 formed in the upper rear corner of the block to receive support therefrom.

during the clamping action. The side walls 3| left by the formation of the inclined face 30 cooperate with the pins 27 and the stud 26 to properly hold the clamping bracket 24.

At one end, the shaft 29 mounts a knob 32 by which the shaft may be turned to swing the key blank carrier from an operative position at which its step or ledge 23 rests on a supporting ledge 33' formed as part of the frame, to an inoperative position defined by the engagement of the rear lower corner of the block 22, with a stop abutment 36 also formed as part of the frame.

Inasmuch as the key blank supporting step or ledge 23, when in operative position, rests directly on the frame, it is evident that the blank receives rigid support during the cutting action.

To present successive portions of the key blank to the cutter, the shaft 23 with the key blank carrier and the blank carried thereby, is longitudinally shiftable in its bearings I9, and inasmuch as it is essential that the notches to be out in the key be accurately located with respect to the length of the key, the longitudinal position of the shaft 29 and the key blank carrier mounted thereon is visually indicated as at 35, and is firmly held by a detent of latch 36.

For visually indicating the longitudinal position of the key blank with respect to the cutter, a portion of one of the bearings I9 is cut away to expose the shaft 20, and afford two slabbed faces 31. On the slabbed faces 31 are five numerals representing the five positions of the notches on the key and cooperating with these numerals is an indicating line 38, formed directly on the shaft 20.

At the opposite end of the shaft adjacent the detent or latch 36, the shaft has five notches 39 spaced apart distances corresponding to the 1ongitudinal distances between the notches or tumbler engaging portions of the key and the distances between the indicating numerals on the slabbed portions 31.

The detent 36, which consists merely of a blade hingedly mounted as at 39 with its forward free end portion slidable in a slot 38 cut up into the adjacent bearing I9, is adapted to engage into any one of the notches 39 to hold the shaft against endwise shifting. A compression spring 40 received in a well 30' drilled up into a boss at the bottom of the bearing l9 and held in place by a plug 4|, serves to yieldably project the free end of the detent up against the shaft 20 and into engagement with any one of the notches 39.

The angular position of the notches 39 in the shaft 20, with respect to the detent 36 and the key blank carrier, is such that as the carrier nears its operative position at which the blank supported thereon is in position to be cut and to which it is swung by rotation of the shaft 21!, the detent is not in full engagement with the notches, but engages an end thereof so that the spring tension of the detent turns the shaft to swing the key blank carrier to its operative position. When the shaft is turned to raise the blank carrier out of its operative position, the notches are out of alignment with the edge of the detent to permit longitudinal shifting of the shaft which is limited by the engagement of the block 22, with the inner faces. of the bearings I9.

The cutter I6 is substantially in the form of a disc and has its periphery divided into four cutting lobes 40, AI, 42 and 43, separated by notches 44. The peripheries of these four cutting lobes are at different distances from the center of the cutter and have V-shaped broaching teeth to cut the four different depth notches of the key, the fifth step or highest point generally called the No. 1 step is the blank edge of the key and does not require cutting.

The teeth on the peripheral edges of the four cutting lobes are disposed spirally with respect to the axis of the cutter so that the successive teeth of each individual lobe are progressively farther from the center of the cutter to each take off a very thin shaving during the cutting action so that the cutting force on the key iskept low enough to preclude distorting of the key blank and forming an excessive burr. The rotary cutter is thus substantially a multiple tooth broaching tool mounted to swing in an arc instead of moving in a straight line as broaching tools generally do.

The cutter disc, as best shown in Figure 9, is keyed to the shaft l5 so that the shaft turns with the disc. At opposite sides of the bearings l3 and I4, which mount the shaft I5, are the'spaced arms 45 of a bifurcated handle 46. The handle is freely rotatable about the shaft and carries a ratchet dog 41', spring urged to engage in holes 48 in the cutter disc.

At the side of the disc facing the ratchet dog, the holes 48 are slightly counterbored to facilitate the engagement of the dog therewith. These holes 48 are so located with respect to the angular length of the cutting lobes, that within the range of swinging movement of the arm, which is defined by an abutment 49, carried by the frame and engageable with the rear of the handle, and abutments 50 carried by the handle and engageable with the portion 33 of the frame, the ratchet dog will engage in the proper hole to turn the cutter the angular distance required to advance the cutter through the range of the particular cutting lobe which is in position to make a out.

To preclude retrograde rotation of the cutter during retraction of the operating handle, a second ratchet dog 5|, (see Figure 9) is carried by the bearing l3 to engage in holes 52 in the cutter disc. Like the holes 48, the holes 52 are counterbored on that side of the disc facing the ratchet dog 5| to facilitate its engagement therewith.

The shape of the ratchet dogs is such that the dog 41, which is carried by the handle, is moved out of any hole 48 in which it is located upon retraction of the handle, and the dog 5| moves out of any hole 52 with which it might be engaged during the advance of the cutter disc.

It is to be noted that at the completion of each cutting stroke, one of the notches 44 in the cutter periphery aligns with the step 23 upon which the key blank rests so that the key blank carrier may be swung to and from its operative position either for the purpose of shifting the longitudinal position of the key blank in the manner hereinbefore described, or for the purpose of removing a finished key and applying a new blank.

To indicate the position of the cutter disc, and which of its four cutting lobes is about to make a cut, the shaft l5, which, as stated, is keyed to the disc and turns with the disc, carries the numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5 (see Figure 9), which represent the four steps of the key beneath the highest or No. 1 step. These four numerals are so located on the shaft I5 that the proper numeral is visible through an opening 53 in an overhanging bearing 54 formed outwardly of the bearing Hi, to indicate which cutting lobe is in position to make a out.

As also seen from Figure 9, the shaft I5, and consequently the cutting disc is at all times yieldably urged to the right with respect to Figure 9 by a compression spring 55 bearing against the end of the shaft and supported by an arm 56 fixed to the adjacent portion of the frame, so that clearance is at all times taken up in one direction to insure accuracy of the location of the notches cut into the blank.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the angle formed by the sides of the V-shaped cutting teeth on the different lobes varies in accordance with the depth to which they out, being fiat in the teeth of the lobes which cut the shallow depths, and steeper in the teeth of the lobes which cut deeper. Consequently, the key cut by this machine has a particularly smooth action as steep inclines between the different steps of the key are restricted to the deeper steps.

The key measuring and indicating device, which is indicated generally by the numeral 66, is mounted on a forward extension 6| of the frame of the cutting machine and comprises five bell crank levers 62 pivotally mounted on a common shaft 63 carried by a block 64, which is fixed to the extension 6|.

Between the front of the block 64 and two upstanding side walls or wings 65 formed on the extension BI, is an insert 66 provided with a slot 61 in horizontal alignment with key engaging points 68 on the short arms of the levers 62. The long arms 69 of the bell crank levers extend into the space between the sides 65 and are arranged to swing upwardly through slots I formed in a cover plate fixed to the side walls 65.

Individual tension springs 12 serve to yieldably maintain the levers in their positions illustrated in Figure 2, with the long arms thereof engaging a transverse shaft 13.

When the back of a key is engaged in the slot Bl, its toothed edge engages the short arms of the levers and swings them about the axis of the shaft 63 varying distances as determined by the contour of the key. The ends of the long arms of the bell crank levers cooperate with indicia carried on the cover plate to indicate the depth of each of the five notches of the key.

The specific manner in which the key measuring device functions is clearly illustrated in Figure 8. The key here shown has a combination reading 1, 2, 4, 3, 5. Hence, if it is desired to duplicate this particular key having first secured a blank on the carrier of the cutting machine, the carrier is shifted longitudinally immediately to its No. 2 position as indicated by the numeral 2 on the slabbed portion 3'! of bearing |9 cooperating with the indicating line 38 on the shaft, inasmuch as the first position or step is No. 1, which, as stated before, does not require a cut but is the edge of the blank.

With the key blank carrier thus moved to its No. 2 position, and before it is swung down to its operative position, the cutter is turned by means of its actuating handle until the No. 2 cutting lobe is in position to act on the key, this being indicated by the numeral 2 on the shaft 55 appearing through the opening 53. The key blank carrier is then swung down to its operative position receiving solid support from the frame portion 33, and the second position or step of the key is cut by turning the cutter until its forward travel is arrested by the engagement of the stop abutments 56 with the frame part 33.

The key blank carrier is then swung back to its inoperative position and moved longitudinally to locate the blank in position to have the No. 3 notch cut therein. This, as determined from the combination indicated on the measuring device, is to be cut to the No. 4 depth. With the key blank carrier still in its inoperative position, the cutter is advanced to locate its No. 4 lobe in position to make a cut, and then the key blank carrier is swung down to its operative position, and the cut is made. This procedure is continued until all of the notches have been properly out.

From the description thus far, it is readily apparent that a key of any desired contour may be quickly and accurately cut.

The apparatus also affords means for trimming the tumblers of a lock cylinder to adapt the cylinder to any particular key, this being the function of the tumbler trimming machine indicated generally by the numeral 8. This device consists of a supporting pedestal l fixed to the top 6 of the cabinet and rotatably mounting a tubular mandrel 16.

The outer end of the mandrel has an actuating crank Tl secured thereto and its inner end mounts a cylindrical cutter l8. The cutter. 18

is in the form of a split cylinder of spring metal having saw teeth 19 on its exposed end and is received in the slit outer end of the mandrel, where it is secured by clamping nuts 80. The eifective diameter of the cutter is adjustable by the clamping nuts inasmuch as the outer threaded split end of the mandrel is tapered.

Forwardly of the cutter, the pedestal 15 provides a track 8| along which a carriage 82 is slidable. The carriage 82 has notches 83 in its opposite ends to receive the head of a key, which has been inserted into a lock cylinder, indicated generally by the letter L. The slots 83 are so located with respect to the position of the keyway in the cylinder, that by engaging the key therein, the cylinder is in axial alignment with the cutter l8 and guides the cylinder into the cutter.

The manner of operating the device is clearly evident from Figure 7. As here shown, it is only necessary to properly apply the cylinder with the key therein to the carriage, and then while the crank T1 is being turned, slide the carriage toward the cutter which carries the cylinder forwardly and successively trims oii the tumblers and the cylinder, if necessary.

By disposing the slots 83 at difierent positions with respect to the axis of the cutter, locks of two different types are accommodated, it being necessary merely to remove the carriage and reverse its position.

The pedestal 15 also carries a gauge ring 84, to gauge the diameter of the cylinders.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that this invention provides a complete compactly arranged equipment for lock and key service stations by which all of the operations necessary for fitting keys and cylinder locks may be quickly and accurately performed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a key notching machine, a rotary cutter mounted to turn about a fixed axis and having notches in its outer periphery to divide the same into a plurality of cutting lobes, the peripheries of which are disposed at different distances from said fixed axis of rotation and spirally disposed with respect to said axis, cutting teeth on said peripheries of the cutting lobes to cut notches into the edge of a key blank, the different cutting lobes being adapted to cut notches of different depths, an operating handle mounted to swing through a determined number of degrees, ratchet means operating between said handle and the cutter to successively turn the cutter through the required number of degrees to carry the successive cutting lobes through a complete cutting stroke, and means to hold a key blank in position to be traversed by said cutter.

2. In a key notching machine, a rotary cutter mounted to turn about a fixed axis and having notches in its outer periphery to divide the same into a plurality of cutting lobes, the periphcries of which are disposed at different distances from said fixed axis of rotation and spirally dis posed with respect to said axis, cutting teeth on said peripheries of the cutting lobes to cut notches into the edge of a key blank, the difierent cutting lobes being adapted to cut notches of different depths, an operating handle mounted to swing through a determined number of degrees, ratchet means operating between said handle and the cutter to successively turn the cutter through the required number of degrees, to

carry the successive cutting lobes through a complete cutting stroke, and means to hold a key blank in position to be traversed by said cutter, said holding means being shiftable parallel to the axis of rotation to present different portions of the blank to the cutter.

3. In a key notching machine, a rotary cutter mounted to turn about a fixed axis and having a plurality of cutting portions on its periphery to cut notches of different depths in a key blank, a handle mounted to swing about said axis of rotation, ratchet means cooperating between said handle and the cutter to advance the cutter in successive steps corresponding to the length of the several cutting portions and permitting retraction of the handle independently of the cutter, a second ratchet means cooperating with the cutter to hold the same against retrograde movement during retraction of the handle, and means to hold a key blank in position to be cut by the cutter.

4. In a key notching machine, a frame, a rotary cutter mounted in the frame to turn about a fixed axis, a plurality of cutting sections on the cutter adapted to cut notches of different depths in a key blank held in position for the cutter to traverse its edge, means to hold a key blank in said position, common means to selectively locate any cutting portion of the cutter in operative position and for turning the same to effect a cutting stroke, and means to indicate the cutting portion in position to begin a cutting stroke.

5. In a key notching machine, a rotary cutter mounted to turn about a fixed axis and having a plurality of cutting portions adapted to cut notches of different depths in a key blank held in position for said cutting portions to traverse the same, means to so hold a key blank, means to turn the cutter, and means to indicate which of the cutting portions is in position to make a cut.

6. In a key notching machine, a rotary cutter having a plurality of cutting portions to cut notches of different depths into a key blank held in position to be cut and having non-cutting portions between said cutting portions, means to hold a key blank in position to be cut, said means being movable on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutter to move the key blank to and from its position to be out while the cutter is in in a position presenting one of its non-cutting portions to the key blank, means to turn the cutter about said fixed axis to locate any selected cutting portion in position to make a cut and to advance the cutter through a cutting stroke, and means to indicate which of the cutting portions is in position to make a cut. I

7. In a key notching machine, a rotary cutter having cutting portions to cut notches of dififerent.

depths in a key blank held in a position at which said cutting portions traverse the edge of the key blank, means to so hold a key blank, means to turn the cutter, and indicating means on a part rotatable with the cutter for indicating which of its cutting portions is in position to make a cut.

8. A device to measure and visually depict the combination of a key, comprising a support for the key to be measured, a plurality of pivoted levers yieldably urged tomove portions thereof toward the support for engagement with the notched edge of a key on said support whereby said levers are moved in an opposite direction different distances determined by the contour of the key, and means having indicia cooperating with other portions of the levers to graphically depict the contour of the key.

9. A gauge for measuring and indicating the contour of a key comprising, a support for a key to be measured, a plurality of bell crank levers pivotally mounted to have portions thereof engagealole with the notched edge of a key on said support and to be moved by the engagement of the key therewith to definite positions determined by the contour of the key, and indicating means cooperating with other portions of the levers to afford a visual indication of the contour of the key.

10. A gauge for measuring a key comprising, a support for the key on which the key may be placed with its back edge firmly supported and its notched edge exposed, a plurality of bell crank levers mounted to turn about a common axis and having short arms engageable by the notched edge of a key on said support, spring means to yieldably urge the levers in directions engaging their short arms with the key, and a slotted plate having indioia thereon representing standard depths of key notches mounted so that portions of the long arms of the bell crank levers move through the slots therein to cooperate with said indicia to graphically represent the contour of a key in position on the support.

CONRAD ZYGMUNT. 

